UON opens refurbished Food Science Laboratory

THE CENTRAL COAST is well along the way to cementing its place as a leading Food Innovation Region with the opening in March 2020 of the refurbished Food Science Laboratory at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Campus Ourimbah.

Refurbished at a cost of $1 million, as part of the UON’s $2.6 million teaching space investment in the Campus, the Laboratory was officially opened by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO along with Faculty of Science Pro VicChancellor Professor Lee Smith and Frank Sammut Executive Officer of Central Coast Industry Connect.

The opening was attended by a number of representatives from the region’s food industry.

“We see Ourimbah as a Centre of Excellence for Food Science, and an opportunity to strengthen our engagement with industry and community on the Coast,” said Prof. Zelinsky. “Food Science is one of four University programmes which are only offered here on the Central Coast.”

“Presently, there are around 100 undergraduate students studying food science and human nutrition on this campus and I am very proud that over 90% of our Food Science graduates find employment within three months of completing their degrees,” he said.

“One of the ways Newcastle is different from other universities is that our research activities are strongly aligned to industry needs. We see it as part of our mission to deliver industry-ready graduates to regional UON Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alex Zelinsky AO with Dean of the Ourimbah Campus Dr. Brok Glen and CCIC Executive Officer, Frank Sammut.

businesses. And that is particularly the case here on the Central Coast.”

Referring to the region’s food manufacturing capacity Prof. Zelinsky said, “The food industry is a significant contributor to the Central Coast economy and employment. Well-known brands such as MARS Food, Sanitarium, and Cordina Farms all operate in the region. Leveraging off this strength, we aim to build a central hub of related food activity.”

“We could not do this without our partners on the Coast. In partnership with Regional Development Australia, Central Coast and Central Coast Industry Connect, the University will work closely with industry partners, many of whom are here this morning. Together we will develop strategic initiatives that respond to the needs of the local food sector, supporting regional development and job growth,” he concluded. Laboratory opening a Key Milestone for Central Coast Food Innovation Region

Commenting on the significance of the Food Science Laboratory at the Ourimbah Campus, CCIC Executive Officer, Frank Sammut said, “

“Today is another milestone in the journey of making the Central Coast a Food Innovation Region. Since the inception of this initiative, established by Regional Development Australia Central Coast in 2017, we have made significant progress in bringing this concept to reality for industry.”

“A key milestone early in our journey was the signing of a MOU between UON, RDACC and CCIC, recognising that industry, government and the university needed to work closely together to drive the food initiative to gain outcomes of economic growth and jobs for our region.

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